Wyllie wary, but still open to pro. rugby offer

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 1

Wyllie wary, but still open to pro. rugby offer

The Canterbury rugby captain, Alex Wyllie, confirmed last evening that he had been approached to join the professional rugby troupe which an Aucklandbased company hopes to establish. But Wyllie, who is 33, and who has already announced his availability for the Canterbury XV next year, is some distance away from committing himself. "There has been nothing more than an inquiry,” he said. “I have been given no details, and I would need to know a lot more about it before giving any thought to a decision.” Wyllie acknowledged that ’ professional rugby might be a good thing if the intention was to bring together top players and give them worthy opponents, especially in the cases of players who are heavily out of pocket because of their careers. “It is difficult to see at this stage where it will all start and end, but there could be some merit in the idea if it is designed to provide rugby for players who have played a lot of firstclass rugby and still enjoy the game enough to want to continue playing,” he said. It was most unfair that some top players were paid their wages while they were away on tour, and others got'nothing, Wyllie said. "It can be very expensive for farmers and men who have their own businesses.” Time away would be a prime consideration if he did give serious thought to joining the troupe, said Wyllie, who farms at Omihi. "If overseas tours are planned—(as has been reported)—l can’t see mvself getting deeply involved.” In the meantime, however, he would keep an onen mind about the approach he had received and wait until he knew

more of the details before giving an answer. One other Canterbury footballer, the All Black captain against the British Lions this year, Tane Norton, is known to have been approached. Norton, who is 35, and who announced his retirement from first-class rugby in September, said he would definitely not be interested.

He said professional rugby might suit some players; and if nothing else he hoped that the proposal might awaken the New Zealand Rugby Union to the financial plight of some leading players. “But club rugby is all that I have ahead of me, and I will be quite happy to finish off my playing days at this level,” Norton said. Neither of the other two senior members of the Canterbury team, Lyn Davis and Doug Bruce, have been approached. Davis said he doubted very much whether he would be interested, and Bruce said he would want to know a lot more about the proposals. The pair, like most players and administrators, see so many practical problems that thev are far from convinced that the scheme will get off the ground. The nast-pnesident of the Canterbury Rugby Union.

and the senior vice* president of the New Zealand union (Mr C. H. J. Rhodes) said last evening that professional rugby might well happen "one of these days,” but not in the foreseeable future. The troupe organisers were at a serious disadvantage in that the news of their scheme had leaked out before they were ready. "I think they are only half prepared, and as a result some of the approached players are making their refusals public,” Mr Rhodes said.

The New Zealand union would have to look at the allowances paid All Blacks while they were on tour and the amount might have to be increased, said Mr Rhodes. But "only a small percentage of players” suffered financially while they were away.

The men behind the scheme are two theatrical promoters. Benny Levin and Russell Clark; a singer. Lew Pryme; and a private

radio broadcaster, Tim Bickerstaff. They have registered their company. World Professional Rugby Football, Ltd. Mr Clark, the managing director, said at the weekend that he and his codirectors had intended to release their plan in its entirety in about two weeks, and the early announcement had caught them unprepared. The chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union (Mr C. A. Blazey) said in Wellington yesterday that any players joining such a professional troupe would be banned from the amateur game under the rules of the International Rugby Board.

The same stance has been taken in Britain by the vicepresident of the English Rugby Union (Mr Stanley Couchman). Two former Wellington All Blacks, Andy Leslie and John Dougan, have denied reports that they intended joining the troupe.